Rudd Government's focus on innovation a vote for Australia's economic development - Licensing Executive Society of
Australia and New Zealand
The Licensing Executive Society of Australia and New Zealand (LESANZ) today congratulated the Federal Government on
establishing the nation's first ever Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and on the appointment of
Senator Kim Carr as the department's new Minister.
LESANZ President Mr Simon Rowell welcomed Senator Carr to a broad ministerial portfolio that truly reflects the Rudd
Government's commitment to building a more innovative and internationally competitive nation.
"The Government's focus on innovation presents an opportunity for LESANZ to raise awareness of licensing and
intellectual property issues across the region and we look forward to working with Senator Carr on intellectual property
in commercial settings and its impact on Australia's future development," Mr Rowell said.
LESANZ applauds Senator Carr's upcoming policy review of the national innovation system and is delighted that the review
will focus on strategic linkages between research and the commercialisation of research, as one of its key focus areas.
"We believe that investment in innovation - not only in research but also in the infrastructure and skills to
commercialise that research - is one of the keys to the nation's sustainable economic development, and the Federal
Government's innovation policy supports this principle," he said.
Innovation and commercialisation will also be on the agenda for the LESANZ Annual Conference, which will take place in
April 2008 in Melbourne. The conference, entitled "Entrepreneurship and Innovation - not such a Risky Business!" will
feature presentations on IP valuation, IP challenges in the developing world and commercialisation in biotechnology.
About LESANZ
LESANZ is the local chapter of the Licensing Executive Society International (LESI), the premiere association for the
commercialisation of innovation. LESI is an association of 31 national and regional societies, with around 10,000
individual members in total.
About the LESANZ Annual Conference 2008
When: 17th - 19th April 2008
Where: Park Hyatt, Melbourne, Australia
For more information and the full conference program, visit: http://lesanz.org.au/events/annualconference.html
ENDS